Eberhardt continues family tradition of service to Pacific, Huber named chair

Bank of Stockton executive Mary-Elizabeth Eberhardt has been named to University of the Pacific’s Board of Regents, continuing the family’s long tradition of service to the university.

Eberhardt’s grandfather R.L. “Ebe” Eberhardt, parents Bob and Mimi, and uncle Douglass each served as regents of California’s oldest chartered university. She received a bachelor’s degree in physical education at Pacific in 1976 and a teaching credential from Pacific’s Gladys L. Benerd School of Education in 1980. She is married to Pacific alumnus David Sandstrom, and numerous other family members have graduated from Pacific. The Eberhardt family received the Pacific Alumni Association’s Outstanding Family Award in 2014 and Pacific’s school of business is named in honor of the family’s dedication to the university.

“Mary-Elizabeth is an excellent addition to Pacific’s Board of Regents,” said Kevin Huber, president and CEO of Grupe Commercial Co., who was named the board’s chair, succeeding outgoing chair Kathleen Lagorio Janssen. “Mary-Elizabeth comes from a family that is deeply rooted in Stockton and Pacific history. She’s a two-time Pacific alumna who continues to contribute her time and expertise to programs that benefit our students, faculty, staff and the community. I look forward to working with her in the coming years as Pacific regents.”

Eberhardt is the director of community banking for Bank of Stockton, managing the branches and branch managers as well as all retail deposits and loans for 19 locations across the Central Valley, Sierra foothills and Napa.

Eberhardt, whose grandfather, father, uncle and cousin have served as president of Bank of Stockton, also graduated from the California Institute Banking School in 1979 and the Pacific Coast Banking School in 1996.

In holding with the Eberhardt family tradition, Mary-Elizabeth Eberhardt has given generously of her time and expertise. She has been a member of the Beyond Our Gates Community Council, Pacific’s Athletic Campaign Committee, Eberhardt School of Business Advisory Board, the Women’s Leadership Council, and numerous other councils and committees. She also sits in on the Student Investment Fund board meetings as the Eberhardt family representative. Established in 2007 with a generous $1 million gift from Bank of Stockton CEO Douglass Eberhardt, the Student Investment Fund provides students with a unique opportunity to gain experience in the U.S. stock market. Each year a portion of the investment fund’s net assets are distributed to benefit the university. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the Student Investment Fund, which is currently valued at $3 million.

Eberhardt is a founding member of the Children’s Museum of Stockton and a community member on the advisory board for Pacific’s Educational Equity Programs for low-income, first-generation and foster children attending Pacific. Those programs include the Community Involvement Program, Pacific Promise Scholars and SUCCESS-TRiO Program.

Huber, who served as the Board of Regents vice chair under long-time Chair Kathleen Lagorio Janssen, is also a Pacific graduate. He was elected to the board in July 2011 and takes the helm as chair July 1. As president and CEO of Grupe Commercial Co., Huber has served on the boards of numerous civic, charitable, advisory, and professional organizations and foundations, including the San Joaquin Partnership and the Young Presidents’ Organization. He is also a past chair of the United Way of San Joaquin County campaign.

Pacific’s Board of Regents is entrusted with final responsibility for the quality and integrity of the education provided by the university. It selects the university president, approves the mission of the university, and ensures provision of adequate resources to support that mission. In addition, the board protects the university from external pressures antithetical to academic freedom and to university autonomy or integrity.

About University of the Pacific

Founded in 1851 as the first chartered institution of higher education in California, University of the Pacific prepares students for professional and personal success through rigorous academics, small classes, and a supportive and engaging culture. Widely recognized as one of the most beautiful private university campuses in the West, the Stockton Campus offers more than 80 areas of study in seven schools. The university’s distinctive Northern California footprint also includes its San Francisco Campus, home to the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and new graduate programs in health, food and technology fields, and Sacramento Campus, home to the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and new graduate programs in health, education, business, public policy and data science. For more information, visit www.pacific.edu.